Confocal 3D reflectance imaging through multimode fibers without wavefront shaping

TL;DR

This paper introduces a computational method for confocal 3D imaging through multimode fibers that avoids wavefront shaping, enabling minimally invasive, label-free imaging suitable for medical and biological applications.

Contribution

A novel computational approach for depth-gated confocal imaging through multimode fibers that does not require wavefront shaping or fluorescent labels.

Findings

Successful reconstruction of confocal images through MMFs

Compatibility with phase, dark-field, and polarimetric imaging

Potential for minimally invasive medical diagnostics

Abstract

Imaging through optical multimode fibers (MMFs) has the potential to enable hair-thin endoscopes that reduce the invasiveness of imaging deep inside tissues and organs. Current approaches predominantly require active wavefront shaping and fluorescent labeling, which limits their use to preclinical applications and frustrates imaging speed. Here we present a computational approach to reconstruct depth-gated confocal images using a raster-scanned, focused input illumination. We demonstrate the compatibility of this approach with quantitative phase, dark-field, and polarimetric imaging. Computational imaging through MMF opens a new pathway for minimally invasive imaging in medical diagnosis and biological investigations.